Effective Lice Treatment
Lice is not a subject that most people enjoy talking about, but knowing how to treat an infestation is important. These annoying creatures are highly contagious, especially among children, so being familiar with the symptoms and lice treatment options will make coping with an infestation much easier. In this article, we’ll tell you the facts about head lice and what you can do to get rid of them. This article will focus on providing tips for head lice
To confirm an infestation, closely examine the hair under bright light. Lice are very small and fast so they can be hard to see. The nits, or lice eggs, will appear close to the scalp and are oval shaped, whitish beads that don’t move when brushed with the finger. Removing these nits is critical, so using a lice comb will be the most effective way of doing so. Metal combs are sturdier than plastic ones and many people recommend soaking the combs in rubbing alcohol, water and anti-lice shampoo or a 2% Lysol solution for one hour before using them.
The best way to eradicate head lice is to treat the scalp and hair with a medicated anti-lice treatment. Products containing insecticides such as pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide, permethrin and lindane kill lice by damaging their nervous systems. Use caution with these products and use them only as directed. Leaving them on longer than the directions state or applying more treatments than recommended puts children at risk for overexposure to chemical pesticides. Products containing lindane should not be used by pregnant women, babies, young children or the elderly because they may be at risk of neurotoxicity. Children with allergies may be at more risk for allergic reactions to pesticides.
Health Canada has approved a non-pesticide product called Resultz, but the product is still being tested in the United States. Resultz is applied to dry hair for ten minutes and then is rinsed away with warm water. A second application is recommended one week later. Isopropyl myristate 50%, the active ingredient in Resultz, works by dissolving the wax that covers the louse’s outer skeleton. Isopropyl myristate is also used in products such as lipstick, bath oil and moisturizers.
Lice seem to enjoy hanging out behind your ears and at the back of the neck, so give those spots extra attention when using lice treatment. If you find that you still have lice and nits after two applications of a product, then the lice may have developed resistance. Some entomologists have reported that head lice have developed resistance to pesticides. Your best course of action is discussing your options with a doctor. After completing the treatment, be diligent about checking hair and removing nits daily, and repeatedly vacuum your home and car for a few weeks. This will help to keep the bugs away.
